Spain’s Pep Guardiola, coach of Manchester City’s first football team, defended, on Friday, Erling Haaland, the team’s top scorer, saying that he was “impressive since the start of the season”, amid criticism of the Norwegian striker due to his lack of effectiveness in recent matches.
In response to a question about the small number of balls that Haaland touched during recent matches, Guardiola said in a press conference: “This is our fault, not Erling’s fault, who has been impressive since the beginning of the season.”
Haaland did not score in the last two disappointing City draws against Nottingham Forest (1-1) in the English Premier League and Leipzig (1-1) in the Champions League, nor was he involved in a large number of touches.
Guardiola, who acknowledged that his team needs to improve and thus increase Haaland’s effectiveness, added: “I do not need statistics. Once the match is over, I know who was involved in the game or not, and who should participate more or not.”
Haaland, 22, in his first season with Manchester City, has 32 goals in various competitions, but opinions are divided towards him, since since his arrival, it seems that the team has lost its flexibility, which is considered the source of its strength.
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